It is common knowledge among dog owners and breeders that genetics plays an important role in the development of dog arthritis. Hence, if you are on the lookout for a purebred dog, there are certain guidelines you need to follow in order to save you and your future pet a lifetime of trouble with dog arthritis.

The tips that I will share will help you get dogs that are not susceptible to orthopedic problems and give you a feel for how to check for other breed problems. However, there are other factors to consider as well – like the dog’s general health and personality, as well as your lifestyle requirements. Also note that I am talking about pure bred dogs. Mixed breed dogs can get all or none of the problems of each breed! Here are my tips:

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Dog Arthritis and Common Joint Problems Part 2 – The Back Legs

Thanks for reading Part 2 of this article on common joint problems. Dog’s really do give their joints a workout and dog arthritis is unfortunately very common. Let’s continue our tour, joint by joint, through the common problems can lead to dog arthritis.

Please note this is just a summary, I don’t have time to detail each disease but the common ones you will find on other posts.

Hip Joint

One of the most common causes of hip joint problems in dogs is hip dysplasia, a deformity of the hip joint (coxofemoral joint) that occurs during your pet’s growth period.

In a nutshell, the ball of the femur does not fit properly into the hip socket. Some affected dogs show no signs of this condition, while others may develop an altered gait and, as dog arthritis sets in, pain.

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Is your dog recovering slowly from dog cruciate (dog acl) surgery? Seeing your dog in pain can be very distressing, but understanding what surgical complications may be causing this pain goes a long way to helping you take the most appropriate action. One of the most common complications and reasons for a slow recovery is dog arthritis.

When Is Dog Knee Surgery Needed?

• Your dog may need surgery on its knee after injury, as a result of a degenerative disease, or as a result of other health issues (notably being overweight).  The conditions of the knee best treated with surgery include:
• Torn or injured ligaments (Dog Cruciate Ligament Rupture)
• Torn or injured cartilage pads (Torn Meniscus)
• Knee cap out of position (Patellar Luxation)
• Knee fractures (Stifle Joint Fractures)
• Surgery is best performed before arthritis sets into the joint.

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